Legal assistance is crucial for fostering a safe and welcoming society, addressing various issues from marital to criminal and property matters.
Our 2024 study on Americans seeking legal help reveals the states where the demand for lawyers is highest. Using a set of lawyer-related keywords, our results show America alone has 664.6 thousand monthly searches, making up about 41% of the global search volume of 1.63 million for the same set of keywords. This indicates a growing reliance on legal assistance in the U.S.
Utilizing SEMrush monthly search and U.S. Census Bureau population data, we calculated lawyer search frequency per 100,000 residents in each state and the District of Columbia.
North Carolina leads with 253 searches per 100,000 people, followed by Colorado and Nevada. Notably, populous states like California and Texas did not rank in the top 10, suggesting regional variations in perceived legal needs.
This study highlights the diverse legal interests across the U.S. and underscores the increasing importance of legal guidance in American society.
Key Findings
- The total volume of a whopping 664.6K monthly Google searches across America highlights a strong nationwide curiosity in legal matters.
- North Carolina surprisingly tops the list with 253 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, indicating the highest state-specific interest in legal services.
- Colorado (248/100k) and Nevada (244/100k) came a close second and third in the rankings, following the highest per capita interest in legal services.
- Alaska, South Dakota, and the District of Columbia ranked lowest, with Alaska (109 monthly searches/100k), South Dakota (119/100k), and the District of Columbia (130/100k) indicating the least per capita interest.
- Despite their massive populations of over 30 million, large states like Texas (12th) and California (15th) have lower per capita lawyer search rates, placing them outside the top 10 states.
- Interestingly, New York, with a significant population of 19.6 million, ranked 9th, demonstrating a high interest in seeking lawyers, with a rate of 219 monthly searches per 100k residents.
America’s Lawyer Search Interest of 2024 by State (Infographic)
Ranking the U.S. States by Lawyer Search Interest per 100K Resident
Top 10 U.S. States with the Highest Interest in Lawyers in 2024
Turning our attention first to the top performers, we delve into the states where interest in legal services is at its peak. These top 10 states showcase the highest levels of engagement and curiosity about legal matters.
Let's take a look at these regions leading the charge in America's legal search trends.
1. North Carolina
North Carolina stands strong at number 1 with 252.87 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. The state’s interest in legal services is unmatched. With 27,400 monthly searches among its 10.8 million population, it's a clear frontrunner in legal inquiries.
2. Colorado
Colorado's lower resident count of only 5.9 million demonstrated strong legal engagement, recording 14,580 monthly searches. Its search rate of 248 per 100,000 people highlights a significant interest in legal topics.
3. Nevada
Nevada's legal curiosity is significant and not to be trifled with, with 7,800 monthly searches in a population of 3.2 million. Averaging 244 searches per 100,000 residents, it ranks third, indicating a high demand for legal expertise.
4. Connecticut
Connecticut's search for legal help is robust, with 8,490 monthly searches among 3.6 million residents. This translates to 234 searches per 100,000 people, showcasing the state's active interest in legal matters, and despite not making the top three it is still a strong contender.
5. Florida
Despite its large population of 22.6 million, Florida, at 5th, maintains a strong, but not the highest, interest in legal services, with 232 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, totaling 52,600 searches.
6. South Carolina
South Carolina, with its lower resident population of 5.4 million, demonstrates a keen legal interest with 12,360 monthly searches, equating to 230 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. That’s very impressive, the people of South Carolina know what needs to be done when legal troubles arise.
7. Georgia
Georgia mirrors South Carolina's interest level with 229.93 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Its larger population of 11 million contributes to an impressive 25,360 searches.
8. Oregon
Oregon's legal interest is not to be dismissed, with 9,680 monthly searches among its 4.2 million residents. This amounts to 228 searches per 100,000 people, indicating a solid engagement in legal services and a very savvy population.
9. New York
With a hefty population of 19.6 million, New York represents massive legal interest. It logs 42,880 monthly searches, averaging 219 per 100,000 residents. The Big Apple knows its legal lingo.
10. Michigan
Rounding out the top ten, Michigan's legal curiosity is notable. With a population of 10 million, it records 21,200 monthly searches, translating to 211.21 searches per 100,000 residents. Even though it comes at number ten that’s still an impressive number.
Bottom 10 U.S. States with the Lowest Interest in Lawyers in 2024
These bottom 10 states, including the Dist. of Columbia, reveal a different side of America's engagement with legal matters, a less interested and less legal savvy side.
Here's a closer look at where legal curiosity is more subdued yet still present in its own right.
1. Alaska
Ranking last, Alaska's interest in legal topics is the lowest, with just 800 monthly searches among its 733.4k residents, translating to 109 searches per 100,000 people.
2. South Dakota
South Dakota, with a population of 919.3k, shows limited legal search interest with 1,090 monthly searches, or 119 searches per 100,000 residents.
3. District of Columbia
Despite being the nation's capital, the District of Columbia records only 880 monthly searches in a population of 679k, resulting in 130 searches per 100,000 residents.
4. Montana
Montana's legal curiosity is on the lower end, with 1,500 monthly searches among its 1.1 million residents, equating to 132 searches per 100,000 people.
5. North Dakota
In North Dakota, the legal search interest is relatively low, with 1,120 monthly searches in a population of 783.9k, which is about 143 searches per 100,000 residents.
6. Hawaii
Hawaii's interest in legal services is modest, with 2,080 monthly searches among its 1.4 million population, averaging 145 searches per 100,000 people.
7. Kansas
Kansas, with a population of 2.9 million, shows a steady interest in legal matters with 4,370 monthly searches, translating to 149 searches per 100,000 residents.
8. Nebraska
With 2 million residents, Nebraska recorded 2,960 legal monthly searches, indicating a search rate of 150 per 100,000, reflecting a moderate interest in legal services.
9. Vermont
Vermont's smaller population of 647.5k contributes to its lower total of 980 monthly searches but still maintains a respectable 151 searches per 100,000 people.
10. Arizona
Arizona has a notable legal curiosity with 11,400 monthly searches among its 7.4 million population, resulting in a rate of 153 searches per 100,000 residents.
Methodology
To assess the level of interest in legal services across 50 U.S. states and the Dist. of Columbia in 2024, we implemented a two-step methodology:
Google Search Data Collection:
- We chose a set of search terms relevant to legal services, covering popular keywords related to lawyers.
- Utilizing SEMrush, we calculated each state's total monthly search volume for these selected keywords.
Combining Search Data with Population Statistics:
- We acquired the latest population data for each state from the U.S. Census Bureau.
- To standardize the data, we calculated searches per 100,000 residents. This was done by dividing each state's search volume by population and multiplying the result by 100,000. This calculation provided a uniform metric to compare interest levels across different states.
Data Analysis:
- By integrating these two data sets, we ranked the states according to their per capita interest in legal services. States with higher search rates per 100,000 residents indicated greater interest.
- Considering both search volume and population size, this ranking offered valuable insights into which states exhibited the most significant interest in legal services.